The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1887-07-06
would be just like the wretch to receive

missing me without warning, if did not
attend every minute to my business. Our
hopes of happiness depended upon his
good pleasure. Miss Peyton was cool
and dignifed. I suppose she knew
was exaggerating. Agnes looked hurt
Her sweet lips trembled a little,
and her eyes were suspiciously dim. /
longed to have her alone for little while
to comfort her, as I knew could; but
there was no chance, for, though Miss
Georgia relented sufficiently to go up
stairs to write an important letter" "
Raphael was there, resting his elbow on
the table. and looking up at Agnes with
an expression of deep pity in his beauti-
full but sleepy dark eyes.
And yet the next day the same thing
occurred. Mr.. Gruffland was there, and
looked up from his papers with glance
of disapproval as I took Clarkson's place
at the telephone. My "Hullo" was
rather savage.
"Oh Harry! Do forgive me! Indeed,
indeed I felt so sorry last night, and
wanted to tell you so; but, you, you see,
Ralph was there. I'm all alone now.
Oh Harry, won't you forgive mes"
"Of course, 1 returned, feeling Gruff's
eyes burning unpleasantly on the nape of
my neck.
"Oh Harry dear, don't talk like that
to me. Do say you love me"
Was there ever such child2 felt
like cold-blooded wretch, as Ihurriedly
replied:
"All right. I'll come up as soon as l
can. Very busy now. Good-by.
I felt, rather than heard. little sob at
the other end of the wire. Grutf said
nothing. but 1 was doomed to another
miserable day. I managed to ask Clark
son, if I was called again, to say could
not attend, and five times heard him
give this message, and each time he
turned away with mighty grin. What
might not Agnes have said to him9
Of course, I hurried to the Peyton's,
determined to see her alone. She came
running into the hall to meet me, bright
and loving, but the annoyances Of the
day had made me cross, and l said
curtly:
"Really, Agnes, it is very strange you
don't understand that man cannot take
his business hours to talk with his
friends. After all I said last night, l
must say 1 was surprised to be called up
again to-daym
Agnes stopped abruptly, and said, with
dignity:
II do not understand you'll"
"Why, my dear little girl" said,
sobered by the change in her manner,
81 do not mean to be cross, but how
could talk to you about my affection or
forgiveness through the telephone, with
all those fellows listening, to say nothing
of old Gruffa"
"But have not touched the tele-
phone to-day, Harry"
"What!" 1 exclaimed.
"Georgie!n called Anges, stepping
back to the sitting-room, and I followed
to tell the story.
sIt is very strange" said Miss Peyton,
but. of course, it is some mistake. The
lines are out OF order or crossed in some
way. But mamma and Agnes and have
been out shopping all day, and we
lunched down town, so we can prove an
alibi."
1t certainly was very strange. but we
all concluded that it might be as Miss
Georgia suggested, and the pater at
once began to spin long yarns about
queer messages, till at lastI coaxed Anges
into the conservatory alone, and the
close of the evening was all the brighter
for the shadow with which it began.
The dear girl sympathized with me,
and forgave my impatience, and
was so sweet, that before I knew /
found myself telling her the one event of
my life l had determined to keep secret
the ENHANCEMENT I once had with Lu-
cretia Chase. Of course she had been
the most to blame, and Agnes thought
her very horrid and forward, so had to
admit that Cretia had misunderstood
some things I had said to her when a
mere boy, and then Agnes asked me If
1 really, really loved her best. All me.
what happy evening that was!
And the next day the telephone an
noyances began, but I felt sure of my
ground, and told Clarkson he could re-
fuse to listen. Imagine my surprise
when he turued to me with clever imi-
tation of Agnes's voice, saying:
"She is quite sure Harry will come
when he knows she wants to talk to him
about 'Cretia.' )"
I was thunderstruck! Lucretia Chase
lived in Vermont; I was morally sure no
one in the city knew of her existence
no one but Agnes! I rushed to the in
strument. 1t was the clear girls voice.
How could any one have known that
Cretia possessed some idiotic lines I had
once written her-any one but Agnes2
Yet now heard them repeated:
"Oh, Cretia! fairest valentine! -
Wilt thou accept this hand Of minei
A smaller gift my soul forbids;
But tens the number Of my kids!n
Ijerked away in anger and surprise,
only to meet old Gruff's grim glance.
''If this thing goes on, Mr.. Dixon, it
might be we'll for you and Mr.. Clarkson
to change desks"
knew what that implied, and my
heart sank to my boots.
s'Ido not understand it myself" I re-
piled. 81 assure you, sir, that 1 am ex-
ceedingly annoyed. Twill not answer it
again"
~ will myself, SIR" he growled, and
I went back to my desk to upset my ink
bottle, to make mistakes in my accounts,
and torture myself with the conviction
that since no one but Agnes could have